Tubal Cancer - Treatment

Contents

Treatment

Multimodality therapy is standard for fallopian tube carcinoma and is identical to that of ovarian cancer (2). A laparotomy is performed to remove the primary tumour, stage the tumour and remove metastases. Evidence from the management of ovarian cancer is that cytoreductive surgery is of benefit especially if optimal debulking is possible. The majority of patients will require adjuvant chemotherapy. This will usually involve administration of carboplatin and paclitaxel as is recommended for epithelial ovarian cancer. The role of adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with tumour confined to the fallopian tubes is unclear as experience is limited (2).

Prognosis

Survival:

Overall the survival is slightly better than for epithelial ovarian cancer which reflects the larger proportion of patients who present with earlier stage disease (4).

Follow-up

Following completion of treatment, patients are generally seen every 3 months for the first 2 years and then every 6 months for the next 3 years.

References

(1) Chen LM, Berek JS. Ovarian and fallopian tubes. In: Haskell CM ed. Cancer Treatment, 5th edition, Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 2000:55 

(2) Berek JS, Hacker NF. Nonepithelial Ovarian and Fallopian Tube Cancers. In: Practical Gynecologic Oncology,3rd edition, Philadelphia: Lippincott William and Wilkins, 2000:523 

(3) Fox H, Buckley CH. Fallopian tube and broad ligament neoplasms. In: Gresham GA ed.Atlas of Gynaecological Pathology. Volume 5, Lancaster, MTP Press Limited, 1983:99

(4) Pecorelli S, Odicino F, Maisonneuve P, Creasman W, Shepard J, Sideri M, et al. Carcinoma of the fallopian tube. Annual Report on the Results of Treatment in Gynaecological Cancer. J Epidemiol Biostat 1998;3:363-374

Dr Geoffrey Otton
Fellow in Gynaecologic Oncology
Queensland Centre for Gynaecological Cancer

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